Carson Palmer speaks during a news conference at the Raiders' training facility in Alameda, California, on Tuesday, October 18, 2011. Head coach Hue Jackson is at right. (Dean Coppola/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

Carson Palmer is a great multitasker. In one fine swoop, he’s been able to overshadow the World Series and Jason Campbell.

That’s right, the Carson Palmer trade to the Oakland Raiders is the hottest news Wednesday and the biggest question on the topic has been if the Raiders made the right move. In exchange for Carson Palmer, the Cincinnati Bengals receive a first round pick in the 2012 NFL draft and a conditional first round pick in the 2013 NFL draft as well as Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported Tuesday afternoon.

At best, this trade is risky. At worst, the trade is a franchise sinker.

We won’t have any clue of how this will play out until Carson Palmer gets on the field – to which Raiders coach Hue Jackson is keeping a secret. Fox NFL columnist Greg Couch believes this is just the kind of trade the late Raiders owner Al Davis would have appreciated.

A close up of Owner Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders as he smiles and looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.(Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Allsport/Getty Images)

As Bob Costas said on NBC Sunday night, Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis was an American original.

Love him or hate him, at least you will remember him. Davis’ polarizing personality sometimes overshadowed one of his defining NFL legacies as a pioneer for giving minorities opportunities to work in the NFL’s front office. Davis, 89, was ahead of his time – and the Rooney rule.

Al Davis was the first owner to hire a Hispanic coach, Tom Flores, and hired Art Shell to coach the Raiders in 1989, making him just the second African American coach in the NFL at the time. Perhaps, even more impressive, Davis hired the first female CEO in the NFL, Amy Trask, in 1997. Trask is still the only female CEO in the the NFL.

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) watches on the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 39-23. Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US

There’s never a middle road when discussing Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. So it’s no surprise that the former Florida Gators quarterback drew mixed reviews from the Denver media in his first NFL start Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Denver Post columnist Woody Paige and Dave Krieger took opposing view on Tim Tebow’s first NFL start in which he completed 8-of-16 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown. He also turned in a 40-yard rushing touchdown as well during the 39-23 loss.

Paige said Tim Tebow was the best player on the field Sunday and called him a one man band-aid to the Bronco’s “vanilla” offense.

“Those people who wondered if Tebow even belonged in the NFL will be quiet today. The Kid is a QB-in-progress, but many people in the Bay Area were reminded at the dank tank of another left-handed quarterback who used to run wild and, occasionally, throw wild hereabouts. Steve Young made the Hall of Fame.

Tebow is not Young or the John Elway of old yet, and may not ever be, but Elway was not John Elway in his first pro start (1-of-8 for 14 yards, 0 yards rushing). Tebow was 8-of-16 for 138 yards, with a 100.5 passer rating, and 216 yards overall.”

Krieger wasn’t so quick to anoint Tim Tebow the Broncos’ future leader and challenged that much often drawn John Elway comparison for rough NFL starts. He brought up an interesting point suggesting that, unlike Elway, Tebow had more time to watch from the sidelines in his first season rather than being thrown too early into the fire.

“[Tebow's] long throws are mostly jump balls, underthrown pop-ups that can produce good results if the defender never turns his head and a savvy receiver like Lloyd ducks underneath. But put a few of them in scouting reports and they are also turnovers waiting to happen.

And Tebow’s running ability, which is undeniable, makes him more vulnerable to injury in the long run than most pro quarterbacks, who are plenty vulnerable to injury as it is.”

I only got the highlights as CBS was broadcasting the New York Jets-Pittsburgh Steelers game in my neck-of-the-woods. But from what I saw, Tim Tebow wasn’t quite the terrible mess some critics predicted. But only time will tell what the future holds in store for Tebow.

One thing is for certain, he certainly earned another NFL start. Besides, what else could the Denver Broncos possibly stand to lose at this point?

Blanda’s arrival at heaven’s gate should have been heralded by the booming voice of John Facenda, the late NFL Films narrator who once read “The autumn wind is a pirate“ to describe the Oakland Raiders.

George Blanda epitomized toughness — Oakland Raiders toughness — the kind of toughness that broke bones and overcame adversity at the expense of personal pain.

He played linebacker. And quarterback. And kicker.

And he just flat-out kicked … well, you know … the man knew how to open up a can on somebody.

Retiring at the age of 48 — a month shy of his 49th birthday — George Blanda became the oldest player in NFL history after 26 seasons with the Bears, Colts, Oilers and Raiders.

Tim Tebow demonstrates his new throwing style during Pro Day Wednesday, March 17: Orlando Sentinel

Tim Tebow still has plenty of reasons to believe there is a future for him in the NFL.

Just over a third of the projected starting quarterbacks for the 2010 season were not first-round draft picks, including last season’s Super Bowl champion Drew Brees. And the company of non-first round picks are pretty promising considering it includes the likes of Tom Brady, Brett Favre and first-time Pro Bowl QB Matt Schaub. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo entered the NFL as a free agent before his career skyrocketed.

And considering the list of past top draft picks (Jason Campbell, Alex Smith and Matt Leinartto name a few), I’d say Tebow has a 50-50 chance to be a success or a bust.

The Buzz:Despite scoring a 48 on the wonderlic (out of 50), the Harvard alum was drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Rams in 2005. In his first NFL game in 2005, he replaced injured QB Jamie Martin and took the team from a 24-3 halftime deficit to a 33-27 win against the Houston Texans. Just five NFL QB’s are believed to have passed for over 300 yards in their professional debut and the venerable Peyton Manning is included in that company.

The Buzz:Gradkowski is vying for a starting QB job for the Raiders just four years after being drafted by the Bucs in the sixth round. He took over the starting spot in Tampa after then-starter Chris Simms suffered a spleen injury.

The Buzz:Garrard’s was expected to succeed Mark Brunell after the Jaguars drafted him in the fourth round in 2002. But Garrard had to wait for his starting spot after No. 7 pick Byron Leftwich was brought in the following season.

The Buzz:Everyone knows the legend that is Brett Favre. But few would have projected his longevity after his rookie debut in 1991 with the Falcons. He was 0-4 in completions that season and had two interceptions.

The Buzz:Brees can probably relate to Tebow the most out of this list. The two-time Heisman candidate was expected to go in the first round of the 2001 draft, but Michael Vick ultimately was the first quarterback drafted by Atlanta.